Apparatus for gathering cotton.



No. 843,294. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. J. F. OSHAUGHNESSY.

APPARATUS FOR GATHERING COTTON. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1905. RENEWED JULY 11, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I (410% Q VHMQQJQQ w 7 A PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. J. F. OSHAUGHNESSY.

APPARATUS FOR GATHERING COTTON.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 18, 1905. RENEWED JULY 11, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 843,294. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

J. F. OSHAUGHNESSY.

APPARATUS FOR GATHERING COTTON. APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1905. RENEWED JULY 11, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses JAMES F. GSHAUGHNESSY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FQR GATHERlNG @QTTQN.

Application filed AugustlS, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. OSHAUGH- NESSY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,- in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Apparatus for Gathering Cotton, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for gathering cotton.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and efiicient in operation for receiving the cotton picked manually, whereby the cotton icker or operator is relieved of the labor of transporting the cotton picked by him and .of the physical wear and strain of repeatedly bending and straightening his body during the operation of picking or gathering the cotton, while at the same time he is free to employ both hands with which to pick the cotton.

, A further object is to provide a machine or apparatus of the character referred to ,wherein provision is made of carriers or elevators adapted to receive the cotton as picked orgathered from the hands of the individual who picks or gathers the cotton and to transport and deliver the same into a suitable receptacle which is progressed through the field in pace with the picker.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class referred to and which is adapted to be moved through the field, on which are mountedcarriers extending freely therefrom and into convenient relation with respect to the picker and by which the cotton delivered thereto by the hands of the picker is elevated and delivered into a receiving-receptacle.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and rela tive arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in central longitudinal section of a form of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a viewin side elevation of another form of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention.

The same part is designated by the same Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed Jul 11,1906. Serial in. 326,617.

Patented Feb. 5, 190?.

reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the operation of picking or gatherin cotton manually, as ordinarily practice throughout cottongrowing sections, the picker is usually equip ed with a bag to receive the cotton from his hands as he picks it, the bag being suspended from his shoulder by a strap or otherwise and hanging by his side. As thus equip d the picker proceeds through the field an along a row of cotton and picks or gathers the cotton by hand from the open bolls and transfers it tothe bag. As he proceeds with his work he is required repeatedly to stoop or bend down to gather the cotton, especially that ortion which grows close to the ground or w ch has fallen to the ground, and then to straighten u again in order to transfer the cotton so picke to the bag. In addition he is required to support the increasing weight of the bag as it becomes filled. By reason of thus repeatedly bending and straightening his body and of being required to support the increasing weight of the bag the picker is subjected to a physical wear and strain which renders the work of harvesting the cotton crop not only arduous and toilsome, but also slow, te- (lions, and expensive. v

It is among the special urposes of my present invention to provi e an apparatus y the use of which the picker is not only relieved of the burden and toil of carrying and supporting the cotton as gathered and picked by him, but is also relieved of the necessity of repeatedly stooping or bending over and then straightening up and which imposes the physical wear and strain on the body incident to the work of picking cotton manuall I It is al o among the special purposes of my invention to provide means whereby the cotton-picker is enabled to employ'freely and untrammeled both his hands to pick or gather the cotton.

in carrying out my invention I employ a vehicle adapted to be moved through the iield and provided with a suitable receptacle to receive the picked cotton and to transport the same and also provided with one or more frames extending from the body of the vehicle and upon each of which is mounted a carrier upon which the cotton picked or gathered by the picker is deposited manually and by which such cotton so de osited is elevated or carried to and deposite in the receptacle.

7 It is obvious that these objects maybe attained in a Wide variety of constructions and arrangements of devices. While therefore I have'shown and will now describe various forms and arrangements adapted to the accomplishment of my objects and purposes, I do not desire to be limited or restricted to the exact construction nor to the details thereof herein shown and described.

In the particular forms which I have selected for the purpose of illustrating my invention and the best forms in which 1 at present contemplate carrying my invention into practice I employ a vehicle which may-be of any desired type or construction in the de-- tails thereof and which is supported on Wheels A B, the wheel B being preferably arrangedait the front endof the vehicle to serve as a guide or steering wheel therefor and to which is connected a steering-fork C,

having a steering hand-wheel D, by which suchfork and guide-wheel may be properly "directed. It is obvious that many other forms of steering mechanisms are equallywell adapted for use in connection withj my invention, and therefore I do not desire to be limited or restricted in this respect.

The vehicle maybe moved, pro elled, drawn, or advanced through the field 1n any suitable or convenient manner. In the particular form which I have selected for illustration, but to which my invention is not to be limited or restricted, I employ a vehicle of the traction type, and hence the wheels A are shown as traction-Wheels of ordinary type,- and I mount 'u' on the vehicle in any suitable er convenient ocation a motor (indicated at E) and suitably gear the motor-shaft to the axle upon which the traction-wheels A are mounted.

In order to provide a suitable receptacle to receive and contain the cotton as picked or gathered and delivered thereto, I form the body of the vehicle with a chamber F of a capacity to meet the requirements and into which the cotton is to be delivered and from which the accumulated load of cotton may be removed in any suitable or convenient manner-as, for instance, through a trap or door in the bottom of such chamber.

In practice I propose to support the body of the vehicle at such a height above the surface of the ground as to enable the same to move or to be advanced through a cottonfield without dangerof breaking down or injuring the cotton-stalks or the unopened bells and with the traction and guide wheels running between rows of the cotton-stalks.

Pivotally supported upon and extending freely from the end of the vehi:-lethe front end as in Figs. 1 and 2 and the rear end as in Fig. 3'are a plurality of frames G, upon each of which is mounted to o crate endwise thereof an endless belt, ban or carrier H. In the particular exemplification shown I suitably journal a transverse shaft J in bear ings carried by the vehicle and mount pulleys upon said shaft, over which pulleys operate and from which are driven the' carrier belts or hands H, said belts or bands also operating over cooperating guide-pulleys K, carried in the outer free ends of the frames G. These frames G are arranged a suitable and convenient 'distance apart to accommodate a row of cotton-stalks between adjacent frames and are hinged or pivoted concentric with or upon shaft J, so as to rock or swing in avertical plane. The outer or free ends of the frames G may, if desired, be supported upon guides, as rollers L, adapted to rest upon the ground. Provision may be made for rocking or swinging the frames G and the carriers thereon vertically or in vertical planes in order to change the inclination thereof relative to the ground, as may be required according to the conditions as to the height of the cotton-stalks or the like in the field. Many specifically-different constructions may be devised for accomplishing this object. In the particular form shown, to which", however, my invention is in no manner to be limited or restricted, I arrange a shaft or rod M topass transversely through the frames G at a convenient point intermediate theirends, and to said shaftor rod I connect an arm N, said arm being pivotally' mounted on shaft J and provided on the opposite side of its pivot with a segment-gear O, With which meshes a worm P, having an operating wheel or handle R. By suitably manipulating this wheel or handle the segment-gear is rocked and the frames G swung vertically about their pivotal axis.

Rotation may be imparted from the motor to the shaft J by any suitable means or convenient airangement of gearing. As illustrative of an operative embodiment I haveindicated a simple form of chain-drive .S for accomplishing this purpose. If desired, the carriers H may be provided with cross slats or cleats, and in practice I propose to arrange the carriers to operate between side plates on the frames G, thereby forming, in effect, movable bottoms of channels.

In the operation of the apparatus the pickers are stationed alongside of and between the frames G, and, employing both hands in the work of pickin or gathering the opened cotton'from the b0 ls, the cotton thus picked or gathered is deposited upon the carrier of the adjacent frame and by such carrier elevated or transported to and delivered into the receptacle, the shaft J being preferably journaled adjacent the 11 per edge of the re ceptacle. If desired an in order to insure the delivery of the cotton from the carriers into the receptacle, dofi'ers 'T may be employed forsuch purpose, though I do not regard this as an essential feature. Where doffers are employed, they may be driven in any convenient manner from the shaft J. If desired, and in order to throw the carriers out of operation Without arresting the motor or the traction-wheels, a clutch (indicated at W) may be employed, and means may be provided for controlling the clutch from a point convenient to the seat V for the driver-as, for instance, the connections U.

In the practical o eration of the ap aratus of my invention t he vehicle is a vanced through the field and along the rows of cottonstalks as rapidly as ma be desired or convenient for the ickers, w o, stationed adjacent the frames and between them, the latter straddling the rows, employ both hands to pick or gather the cotton and to deposit the same upon the carrier-belts. In this manner the necessity for repeatedly straightening up after bending over is avoided, since the picked cotton may be deposited u on the carriers without the pickers straightening up, and as the ickers are unhampered and are free to empl z) both hands at the same time it is obvious that the daily picking cap acityof each individual is greatly increased and less time is required to cover a given area than is possible wlth the methods of manual picking commonly employed. Moreover, since the most toilsome and arduous part of the manual work of picking or harvesting the cotton is done away with, boys, Women, and irls can also be emplo ed during the cottonarvesting season. t Will be understood that a number of pickers may be employed with each machine, depending upon the number of frames G and carriers associated therewith.

The form shown in Fig. 3, wherein p the frames G trail behind the vehicle instead of projecting'or extending in advance or front of it, is considered the most appro riate arrangement, for the reason, among ot ers, that whatever of loose dried leaves or twi s there may be on the stalks, which might ot erwise be dislodged by the vehicle, the frames G, or the pickers as the machine progresses through the field and become deposite u on the conveyers or carriers and delivere alon with the cotton into the receptacle, are s aken down or dislodged before theframes G reach them in the case where the said frames trail behind the vehicle.

It is to be observed that I do not seek to efiect an automatic picking or gathering of the cotton, but only to lighten the labor and burden of picking or gathering cotton manually, whereby the capacity of the individual and the speed of operation are increased.

Having now set'forth the object and nature of my invention and various forms of construction embodying the rinciples thereof and having explained sue constructions, their purpose, function, and mode of operation, I desire to be distinctly understood that my invention is not to be limited in sec e to the specific details of construction an arrangements shown and described, as many variations therefrom and alterations and changes in the details thereof may readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention; but

What I-do claim as new and useful and of my own lIlVGIltlOIlyfiIld desire to secure by Letters Patent, is' g 1.. In an apparatus for gathering cotton, a vehicle having a receptacle,lrames extendin freely from the end of the vehicle and space apart to accommodate a row of cottonstalks t erebetween, carriers mounted on said frames and delivering to said receptacle, and

means for actuating said carriers.

2. In an apparatus for gathering cotton, a vehicle having-a receptacle, frames movably mounted upon said vehicle and spaced apart to accommodate a row of cotton-stalks therebetween, carriers operating upon said frames and means for actuating said carriers.

3. In an apparatus for gathering cotton, avehicle having a receptacle, earners sup ported at the rear end of said vehicles and extending rearwardly from said end, said carriers being spaced apart to accommodate a row of cotton-stalks therebetween and delivering to said receptacle, and means for actuating said carriers.

4. In an apparatus for athering cotton, a vehicle having areceptac e, carriers trailin freely from the rear end of said vehicle sai carriers being spaced apaft to accommodate a row of cotton-stalks therebetween and delivering to said receptacle, and means for ac tuating said carriers.

5. In an apparatus for gathering cotton a vehicle having a receptacle, carriers connect-ed at one end to the rear end of said vehicle and freely trailing rearwardly from said rear end, said carriers being spaced a art to accommodate a row of cotton-stalks t erebetween and delivering to said receptacle, means for supporting the free ends of said carriers and means for actuating said carriers.

6. In an apparatus for gathering cotton a vehicle having a receptacle, a motor mounted on said vehicle, one or more'carriers having connection at one end to said vehicle and extending freely therefrom, said carriers deliverin to said receptacle, and means driven neeted at one end to said vehicle and extend- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ing therefiom, said frames being separated hand, this 14th day of August, 1905, in the from each other to accommodate a row of I presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

e0t-ten-stalks therebetweengcarrier-belts op- JAMES F. OSIIAUGHNESSY. 5 ereting on said frames and delivering to said Witnesses:

receptacle, and means for actuating said H. W. WITTENBERG,

belts S.v DARBY. 

